So I'm entering an AOIA event this Sunday, but I'm relatively new to the game. I originally was going to use the Biggs Walks The Dog build I saw Paul Heaver win with at Worlds, but I got in a pretty decent order today and considering changing it up. I've only had a few games with the XXBB, and tonight I played a game with Dual Falcons. I've gotten various views on this from looking around, some being ok with it, others making it sound cheap. I played a friend with it tonight and did pretty well against Wedge, Luke and Biggs tonight, but I've only played the one game with it. The list I used tonight was:

Chewie with Draw Their Fire, Recon Specialist, Millennium Falcon and Anti-Pursuit Lasers.

Lando with Push The Limit, Recon Specialist and Nien Nunb.


Now with this game I found the APL pretty usesless and never activated them once. I did the side of the board train up and down and never really got rammed. Would this be more viable in a mainstream (ish) event? Or would something like this work better:


Chewie with Push The Limit, Recon Specialist and Millennium Falcon.

Lando with Push The Limit, Recon Specialist and Nien Nunb.


Is this viable in the current meta? Or should I go back to the XXBB? I also got in some Interceptors, with a list I saw on here I was thinking of running:


Soontir Fel with Push The Limit and Targeting Computer.

Carnor Jax with Push The Limit.

Tetran Cowell with Push The Limit.

Academy Pilot.


The Interceptors seem like they'd be a lot more of an advanced Squadron to fly and I have 0 games under my belt with them (though I'm hoping to get some more games in the next few days, specifically with whichever squadron I settle on). Any opinions or advice here would be awesome and greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance guys.

Definitely hold off on ints until you get experience, unless you're a natural.

Beyond that, it's really what you hope to get from the experience. Unless it's a new crowd, don't expect to win as lists just aren't enough in this game and good players will take apart any of those lists (above caveat applies, though).

I think you'll learn the most with XXBB over the two falcon lists. Two falcons will allow for the most mistakes and still be competitive, but flying them has never appealed to me.

Flying both Falcons with PTL I don't think will work too well with Lando's action passing. Chewie moves first, gets stress from PTL, and can't take the free action Lando tries to give him. Assuming you're keeping the YTs together, the first list makes more sense to me.

XXBB will let you compete at a high level with anyone and you will learn a lot about the game, especially from your losses. I really like Chewie with either XX or XB, but I'm a fan of engine upgrades so I throw them out a lot. Chewie XB worked very well against Firespray + howl + mini swarm just today.

I'm flying Chewie with a couple of Blue Squadron pilots. I tried Recon Specialist and found I wasn't using the second Focus. You might consider Weapons Engineer instead. Getting a second Target Lock (when using Push the Limit) with your focus can really help.

I'm flying Chewie with a couple of Blue Squadron pilots. I tried Recon Specialist and found I wasn't using the second Focus. You might consider Weapons Engineer instead. Getting a second Target Lock (when using Push the Limit) with your focus can really help.

I think the second focus works best when you have Gunner.

I'm flying Chewie with a couple of Blue Squadron pilots. I tried Recon Specialist and found I wasn't using the second Focus. You might consider Weapons Engineer instead. Getting a second Target Lock (when using Push the Limit) with your focus can really help.

I think the second focus works best when you have Gunner.

Quite possibly. I had Gunner originally, but I realized that with a Target Lock and Focus from PtL, I was never using that ability. We had a practice tournament three weeks ago and I didn't use Gunner once. There were possibly a couple of opportunities to where I simply forgot, but he didn't get used once. Since I won that tournament, I decided I could live without him, and have replaced him with Weapons Engineer and Anti-Pursuit Lasers.

Dual Falcons can be 'cheap' because its such a hard counter to certain types of lists. Having said that, you're taking it to a tourney where a competitive spirit is to be expected. If you do take double falcons, I would echo some of the statements about avoiding PtL on both, and further, I strongly recommend at least one Gunner, since without it, you will really struggle against an opponent rolling hot with lots of green dice (something that's bound to happen to you over the course of a tourney).

If you decide to fly XXBB, you don't specifically 'hard counter' as many other lists, but its a strong build no matter what ships you choose, so you can do well. However, there is some skill and therefore learning curve with getting it right, and if you have zero experience, you might not do as well as you could otherwise...

Interceptors is even less forgiving to the inexperienced. I would say avoid them if you have never flown them before. They require a very different mindset than most other types of lists to get the most out of them.

Good Luck, whatever you choose!

For your first tournament I would go with XXBB

2 Red Squadron + 2 Dagger squadron with Adv. Sensors.

The all around PS 4 will make move coordination easier. The list hits hard and is somewhat forgiving.

If you face an experienced player with dual Falcons you will probably get smoked.

This list can put a lot of red dice out and that is what wins games in X-Wing.

I would swap out PTL on your falcons for expert handling or engine upgrade. Out of arc shots are way better for a falcon because they are not restricted by their own firing arc.

What ever list your running,

1. Take your time with your moves, THEN do your ship actions ( I kept forgetting this and I flew people off the board during my first torny a lot)

2. Stop to BREATH,

3. Don't let a bad roll be disheartening,

4. If you make a mistake let it roll off your back,

5. drink lots of water ;-)

6. Work on learning range for 1-2 by sight.

Last remember there is no killer list at 100 points, any list can be beaten so don't get discouraged if you see a swarm, 3 hunters or 3 falcons.

I know this might not be directly what your asking about but it's good advice I wish someone would have slapped me in the face with a couple months back.

Oh boy, this is a lot to respond to, going to try and get to everyone.

Definitely hold off on ints until you get experience, unless you're a natural.

Beyond that, it's really what you hope to get from the experience. Unless it's a new crowd, don't expect to win as lists just aren't enough in this game and good players will take apart any of those lists (above caveat applies, though).

I think you'll learn the most with XXBB over the two falcon lists. Two falcons will allow for the most mistakes and still be competitive, but flying them has never appealed to me.

Yeah, that was my feelings. I really like the idea of Interceptors, but I don't feel quite comfortable using them in my first tournament with 0 games under my belt using them.

Yeah regardless, I'm not going into this expecting to win. I'm expecting a $10 practice and a bonus Bandit Squadron Pilot card. I do have lists for Finals, just in case, but yeah, going into this realistically.

I think that'd definitely be the case, but like you said, the Falcons allow for more mistakes, which I'm bound to make. I can practice and learn at home when I play, despite being realistic and not going in expecting to win, I do want to go in giving myself the best chance TO win.

Flying both Falcons with PTL I don't think will work too well with Lando's action passing. Chewie moves first, gets stress from PTL, and can't take the free action Lando tries to give him. Assuming you're keeping the YTs together, the first list makes more sense to me.

XXBB will let you compete at a high level with anyone and you will learn a lot about the game, especially from your losses. I really like Chewie with either XX or XB, but I'm a fan of engine upgrades so I throw them out a lot. Chewie XB worked very well against Firespray + howl + mini swarm just today.

Gotcha, very valid point and yeah, the plan was certainly to keep them together.

My only worry about flying a Falcon normally, is that I haven't played with them enough involving asteroids. The way I played my only game with them made asteroids completely irrelivant for me. I'd be worried I'd misjudge moves and bump asteroids.

I'm flying Chewie with a couple of Blue Squadron pilots. I tried Recon Specialist and found I wasn't using the second Focus. You might consider Weapons Engineer instead. Getting a second Target Lock (when using Push the Limit) with your focus can really help.

Are you talking Weapons Engineer on both? Or just Lando? While I do like the idea of 2 target locks, I like the idea of multiple focus for games against larger squadrons, giving me more chances to use them with more attacks incoming. With only 1 agility though, that might not be as useful, guess it comes down to what gives you better odds on attacks, extra Target Locks or extra Focuses.

Dual Falcons can be 'cheap' because its such a hard counter to certain types of lists. Having said that, you're taking it to a tourney where a competitive spirit is to be expected. If you do take double falcons, I would echo some of the statements about avoiding PtL on both, and further, I strongly recommend at least one Gunner, since without it, you will really struggle against an opponent rolling hot with lots of green dice (something that's bound to happen to you over the course of a tourney).

If you decide to fly XXBB, you don't specifically 'hard counter' as many other lists, but its a strong build no matter what ships you choose, so you can do well. However, there is some skill and therefore learning curve with getting it right, and if you have zero experience, you might not do as well as you could otherwise...

Interceptors is even less forgiving to the inexperienced. I would say avoid them if you have never flown them before. They require a very different mindset than most other types of lists to get the most out of them.

Good Luck, whatever you choose!

So as far as a Gunner goes, would you suggest dropping maybe Recon on one and APL? As I said, I found APL sort of useless in the one game I played in the movement strategy I used, not sure how it could end up useful. And if I did that, who would be the best choice to lose Recon? Chew was the main focus of attacks in my game, he was down to I think 1 hull point at the end of my game, Lando was at 6 I believe. A lot of that damage was at the very end though when my friend rolled hot on his reds with Wedge. That being said, with Chewie having Draw Their Fire, I'd imagine a lot of the focus would go towards killing him, so Lando having Gunner might be best?

Yeah, I've played a few games using Biggs, a Rookie and 2 Daggers with Advanced Sensors and I did enjoy them. The lack of experience part came in not realizing Advanced Sensors were for ANY action, I didn't really clue in until recently and haven't been able to try it again in an actual game, so I'd be curious to see how well I'd do remembering to take my actions. For some strange reason I thought it was only barrel rolls you got, probably because all the videos of Reginals/Worlds etc I watched with it played, they mainly did barrel rolls lol.

Very true, as I said, I really like the idea of them, but I'm not quite comfortable enough to bring them to a tournament yet. They'll certainly be something I fool around with between after AOIA and Regionals.

Thanks!

For your first tournament I would go with XXBB

2 Red Squadron + 2 Dagger squadron with Adv. Sensors.

The all around PS 4 will make move coordination easier. The list hits hard and is somewhat forgiving.

If you face an experienced player with dual Falcons you will probably get smoked.

This list can put a lot of red dice out and that is what wins games in X-Wing.

I like the list, but I think I prefer Biggs and a Rookie over the Reds. I just like the ability to spread out damage. Hell, even getting it so only a couple enemy ships have to focus Biggs and not all of them, helps him survive longer and keeps those red dice rolling. While it would be nice to have PS4s across the board, I think they're relatively close enough where I can do well with movement, along with the Advanced Sensors helping out if I do screw up somewhere.

I would swap out PTL on your falcons for expert handling or engine upgrade. Out of arc shots are way better for a falcon because they are not restricted by their own firing arc.

I'm not sure Expert Handling or Engine Upgrade would really be helpful in the way I run the duals, just either going back and forth on one side or going around the outside.

What ever list your running,

1. Take your time with your moves, THEN do your ship actions ( I kept forgetting this and I flew people off the board during my first torny a lot)
2. Stop to BREATH,
3. Don't let a bad roll be disheartening,
4. If you make a mistake let it roll off your back,
5. drink lots of water ;-)
6. Work on learning range for 1-2 by sight.

Last remember there is no killer list at 100 points, any list can be beaten so don't get discouraged if you see a swarm, 3 hunters or 3 falcons.

I know this might not be directly what your asking about but it's good advice I wish someone would have slapped me in the face with a couple months back.

Hey it's all good, I appreciate any and all advice on this, any little bit helps so I appreciate it and will take them all to heart.


I'll probably make a post here or in the Battle Reports after the tournament and let you guys know what I ended up going with and how I did (unless I do awful, then I'll just pretend nothing ever happened haha).

if you have a tantive, that first list with han and 3p0 instead of anti pursuit lasers and recon would be pretty good. Recon spec is kinda meh on falcons with only the one defense die. Anti pursuit is really hit or miss on a PS5, you want low PS with it.

if you have a tantive, that first list with han and 3p0 instead of anti pursuit lasers and recon would be pretty good. Recon spec is kinda meh on falcons with only the one defense die. Anti pursuit is really hit or miss on a PS5, you want low PS with it.

Ah, that's a shame. I was going to have a Tantive IV come in with my last order, but was afraid it'd make the package too big and not be able to fit in my community mail box. That setup sounds a lot more ideal.